ChapterXX:
TheMorning。
InvividcontrasttothesadandterribledestinyofthekingimprisonedintheBastile，andtearing，insheerdespair，theboltsandbarsofhisdungeon，therhetoricofthechroniclersofoldwouldnotfailtopresent，asacompleteantithesis，thepictureofPhilippelyingasleepbeneaththeroyalcanopy。？Wedonotpretendtosaythatsuchrhetoricisalwaysbad，andalwaysscatters，inplaceswheretheyhavenorighttogrow，theflowerswithwhichitembellishesandenlivenshistory。？Butweshall，onthepresentoccasion，carefullyavoidpolishingtheantithesisinquestion，butshallproceedtodrawanotherpictureasminutelyaspossible，toserveasfoilandcounterfoiltotheoneintheprecedingchapter。？TheyoungprincealightedfromAramis\'sroom，inthesamewaythekinghaddescendedfromtheapartmentdedicatedtoMorpheus。？ThedomegraduallyandslowlysankdownunderAramis\'spressure，andPhilippestoodbesidetheroyalbed，whichhadascendedagainafterhavingdepositeditsprisonerinthesecretdepthsofthesubterraneanpassage。？Alone，inthepresenceofalltheluxurywhichsurroundedhim;alone，inthepresenceofhispower;alone，withtheparthewasabouttobeforcedtoact，Philippeforthefirsttimefelthisheart，andmind，andsoulexpandbeneaththeinfluenceofathousandmutableemotions，whicharethevitalthrobsofaking\'sheart。？Hecouldnothelpchangingcolorwhenhelookedupontheemptybed，stilltumbledbyhisbrother\'sbody。？Thismuteaccomplicehadreturned，afterhavingcompletedtheworkithadbeendestinedtoperform;itreturnedwiththetracesofthecrime;itspoketotheguiltyauthorofthatcrime，withthefrankandunreservedlanguagewhichanaccompliceneverfearstouseinthecompanyofhiscompanioninguilt;foritspokethetruth。？Philippebentoverthebed，andperceivedapocket—handkerchieflyingonit，whichwasstilldampfromthecoldsweatwhichhadpouredfromLouisXIV。\'sface。？Thissweat—bestainedhandkerchiefterrifiedPhilippe，asthegoreofAbelfrightenedCain。
\"I
amfacetofacewithmydestiny，\"saidPhilippe，hiseyesonfire，andhisfacealividwhite。？\"Isitlikelytobemoreterrifyingthanmycaptivityhasbeensadandgloomy？？ThoughIamcompelledtofollowout，ateverymoment，thesovereignpowerandauthorityIhaveusurped，shallIceasetolistentothescruplesofmyheart？？Yes！thekinghaslainonthisbed;itisindeedhisheadthathasleftitsimpressiononthispillow;hisbittertearsthathavestainedthishandkerchief:andyet，Ihesitatetothrowmyselfonthebed，ortopressinmyhandthehandkerchiefwhichisembroideredwithmybrother\'sarms。？Awaywithsuchweakness;letmeimitateM。
d\'Herblay，whoassertsthataman\'sactionshouldbealwaysonedegreeabovehisthoughts;letmeimitateM。d\'Herblay，whosethoughtsareofandforhimselfalone，whoregardshimselfasamanofhonor，solongasheinjuresorbetrayshisenemiesonly。？I，Ialone，shouldhaveoccupiedthisbed，ifLouisXIV。hadnot，owingtomymother\'scriminalabandonment，stoodinmyway;andthishandkerchief，embroideredwiththearmsofFrance，wouldinrightandjusticebelongtomealone，if，asM。
d\'Herblayobserves，Ihadbeenleftmyroyalcradle。？Philippe，sonofFrance，takeyourplaceonthatbed;Philippe，solekingofFrance，resumetheblazonrythatisyours！？Philippe，soleheirpresumptivetoLouisXIII。，yourfather，showyourselfwithoutpityormercyfortheusurperwho，atthismoment，hasnoteventosuffertheagonyoftheremorseofallthatyouhavehadtosubmitto。\"
Withthesewords，Philippe，notwithstandinganinstinctiverepugnanceoffeeling，andinspiteoftheshudderofterrorwhichmasteredhiswill，threwhimselfontheroyalbed，andforcedhismusclestopressthestillwarmplacewhereLouisXIV。hadlain，whileheburiedhisburningfaceinthehandkerchiefstillmoistenedbyhisbrother\'stears。？Withhisheadthrownbackandburiedinthesoftdownofhispillow，PhilippeperceivedabovehimthecrownofFrance，suspended，aswehavestated，byangelswithoutspreadgoldenwings。
A
manmaybeambitiousoflyinginalion\'sden，butcanhardlyhopetosleeptherequietly。？Philippelistenedattentivelytoeverysound;hisheartpantedandthrobbedattheverysuspicionofapproachingterrorandmisfortune;butconfidentinhisownstrength，whichwasconfirmedbytheforceofanoverpoweringlyresolutedetermination，hewaiteduntilsomedecisivecircumstanceshouldpermithimtojudgeforhimself。？Hehopedthatimminentdangermightberevealedtohim，likethosephosphoriclightsofthetempestwhichshowthesailorsthealtitudeofthewavesagainstwhichtheyhavetostruggle。？Butnothingapproached。？Silence，thatmortalenemyofrestlesshearts，andofambitiousminds，shroudedinthethicknessofitsgloomduringtheremainderofthenightthefuturekingofFrance，wholaythereshelteredbeneathhisstolencrown。？Towardsthemorningashadow，ratherthanabody，glidedintotheroyalchamber;Philippeexpectedhisapproachandneitherexpressednorexhibitedanysurprise。
\"Well，M。d\'Herblay？\"
\"Well，sire，allisaccomplished。\"
\"How？\"
\"Exactlyasweexpected。\"
\"Didheresist？\"
\"Terribly！
tearsandentreaties。\"
\"Andthen？\"
\"A
perfectstupor。\"
\"Butatlast？\"
\"Oh！
atlast，acompletevictory，andabsolutesilence。\"
\"DidthegovernoroftheBastilesuspectanything？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Theresemblance，however—\"
\"Wasthecauseofthesuccess。\"
\"Buttheprisonercannotfailtoexplainhimself。？Thinkwellofthat。？Ihavemyselfbeenabletodoasmuchasthat，onformeroccasion。\"
\"I
havealreadyprovidedforeverychance。？Inafewdays，soonerifnecessary，wewilltakethecaptiveoutofhisprison，andwillsendhimoutofthecountry，toaplaceofexilesoremote—
\"
\"Peoplecanreturnfromtheirexile，Monsieurd\'Herblay。\"
\"Toaplaceofexilesodistant，Iwasgoingtosay，thathumanstrengthandthedurationofhumanlifewouldnotbeenoughforhisreturn。\"
OncemoreacoldlookofintelligencepassedbetweenAramisandtheyoungking。
\"AndM。duVallon？\"askedPhilippeinordertochangetheconversation。
\"Hewillbepresentedtoyouto—day，andconfidentiallywillcongratulateyouonthedangerwhichthatconspiratorhasmadeyourun。\"
\"Whatistobedonewithhim？\"
\"WithM。duVallon？\"
\"Yes;
conferadukedomonhim，Isuppose。\"
\"A
dukedom，\"repliedAramis，smilinginasignificantmanner。
\"Whydoyoulaugh，Monsieurd\'Herblay？\"
\"I
laughattheextremecautionofyouridea。\"
\"Cautious，whyso？\"
\"YourmajestyisdoubtlessafraidthatpoorPorthosmaypossiblebecomeatroublesomewitness，andyouwishtogetridofhim。\"
\"What！
inmakinghimaduke？\"
\"Certainly;
youwouldassuredlykillhim，forhewoulddiefromjoy，andthesecretwoulddiewithhim。\"
\"Goodheavens！\"
\"Yes，\"
saidAramis，phlegmatically;\"Ishouldloseaverygoodfriend。\"
Atthismoment，andinthemiddleofthisidleconversation，underthelighttoneofwhichthetwoconspiratorsconcealedtheirjoyandprideattheirmutualsuccess，Aramisheardsomethingwhichmadehimprickuphisears。
\"Whatisthat？\"saidPhilippe。
\"Thedawn，sire。\"
\"Well？\"
\"Well，beforeyouretiredtobedlastnight，youprobablydecidedtodosomethingthismorningatbreakofday。\"
\"Yes，Itoldmycaptainofthemusketeers，\"repliedtheyoungmanhurriedly，\"thatIshouldexpecthim。\"
\"Ifyoutoldhimthat，hewillcertainlybehere，forheisamostpunctualman。\"
\"I
hearastepinthevestibule。\"
\"Itmustbehe。\"
\"Come，letusbegintheattack，\"saidtheyoungkingresolutely。
\"BecautiousforHeaven\'ssake。？Tobegintheattack，andwithD\'Artagnan，wouldbemadness。？D\'Artagnanknowsnothing，hehasseennothing;heisahundredmilesfromsuspectingourmysteryintheslightestdegree，butifhecomesintothisroomthefirstthismorning，hewillbesuretodetectsomethingofwhathastakenplace，andwhichhewouldimagineithisbusinesstooccupyhimselfabout。？BeforeweallowD\'Artagnantopenetrateintothisroom，wemustairtheroomthoroughly，orintroducesomanypeopleintoit，thatthekeenestscentinthewholekingdommaybedeceivedbythetracesoftwentydifferentpersons。\"
\"ButhowcanIsendhimaway，sinceIhavegivenhimarendezvous？\"observedtheprince，impatienttomeasureswordswithsoredoubtableanantagonist。
\"I
willtakecareofthat，\"repliedthebishop，\"andinordertobegin，Iamgoingtostrikeablowwhichwillcompletelystupefyourman。\"
\"He，too，isstrikingablow，forIhearhimatthedoor，\"addedtheprince，hurriedly。
And，infact，aknockatthedoorwasheardatthatmoment。？Aramiswasnotmistaken;foritwasindeedD\'Artagnanwhoadoptedthatmodeofannouncinghimself。
WehaveseenhowhepassedthenightinphilosophizingwithM。Fouquet，butthemusketeerwasverywearyevenoffeigningtofallasleep，andassoonasearliestdawnilluminedwithitsgloomygleamsoflightthesumptuouscornicesofthesuperintendent\'sroom，D\'Artagnanrosefromhisarmchair，arrangedhissword，brushedhiscoatandhatwithhissleeve，likeaprivatesoldiergettingreadyforinspection。
\"Areyougoingout？\"saidFouquet。
\"Yes，monseigneur。？Andyou？\"
\"I
shallremain。\"
\"Youpledgeyourword？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Verygood。？Besides，myonlyreasonforgoingoutistotryandgetthatreply，—youknowwhatImean？\"
\"Thatsentence，youmean—\"
\"Stay，IhavesomethingoftheoldRomaninme。？Thismorning，whenIgotup，Iremarkedthatmyswordhadgotcaughtinoneoftheaiguillettes，andthatmyshoulder—belthadslippedquiteoff。？Thatisaninfalliblesign。\"
\"Ofprosperity？\"
\"Yes，besureofit;foreverytimethatthatconfoundedbeltofminestuckfasttomyback，italwayssignifiedapunishmentfromM。deTr関ille，orarefusalofmoneybyM。deMazarin。？Everytimemyswordhungfasttomyshoulder—belt，italwayspredictedsomedisagreeablecommissionoranotherformetoexecute，andIhavehadshowersofthemallmylifethrough。？Everytime，too，mysworddancedaboutinitssheath，aduel，fortunateinitsresult，wassuretofollow:wheneveritdangledaboutthecalvesofmylegs，itsignifiedaslightwound;everytimeitfellcompletelyoutofthescabbard，Iwasbooked，andmadeupmymindthatIshouldhavetoremainonthefieldofbattle，withtwoorthreemonthsundersurgicalbandagesintothebargain。\"
\"I
didnotknowyourswordkeptyousowellinformed，\"saidFouquet，withafaintsmile，whichshowedhowhewasstrugglingagainsthisownweakness。？\"Isyourswordbewitched，orundertheinfluenceofsomeimperialcharm？\"
\"Why，youmustknowthatmyswordmayalmostberegardedaspartofmyownbody。？Ihaveheardthatcertainmenseemtohavewarningsgiventhembyfeelingsomethingthematterwiththeirlegs，orathrobbingoftheirtemples。？Withme，itismyswordthatwarnsme。？Well，ittoldmeofnothingthismorning。？But，stayamoment—lookhere，ithasjustfallenofitsownaccordintothelastholeofthebelt。？Doyouknowwhatthatisawarningof？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，thattellsmeofanarrestthatwillhavetobemadethisveryday。\"
\"Well，\"
saidthesurintendant，moreastonishedthanannoyedbythisfrankness，\"ifthereisnothingdisagreeablepredictedtoyoubyyoursword，Iamtoconcludethatitisnotdisagreeableforyoutoarrestme。\"
\"You！
arrestyou！\"
\"Ofcourse。？Thewarning—\"
\"Doesnotconcernyou，sinceyouhavebeenarrestedeversinceyesterday。？ItisnotyouIshallhavetoarrest，beassuredofthat。？ThatisthereasonwhyIamdelighted，andalsothereasonwhyIsaidthatmydaywillbeahappyone。\"
Andwiththesewords，pronouncedwiththemostaffectionategraciousnessofmanner，thecaptaintookleaveofFouquetinordertowaitupontheking。？Hewasonthepointofleavingtheroom，whenFouquetsaidtohim，\"Onelastmarkofkindness。\"
\"Whatisit，monseigneur？\"
\"M。
d\'Herblay;letmeseeMonsieurd\'Herblay。\"
\"Iamgoingtotryandgethimtocometoyou。\"
D\'Artagnandidnotthinkhimselfsogoodaprophet。？Itwaswrittenthatthedaywouldpassawayandrealizeallthepredictionsthathadbeenmadeinthemorning。？Hehadaccordinglyknocked，aswehaveseen，attheking\'sdoor。？Thedooropened。？Thecaptainthoughtthatitwasthekingwhohadjustopenedithimself;andthissuppositionwasnotaltogetherinadmissible，consideringthestateofagitationinwhichhehadleftLouisXIV。thepreviousevening;butinsteadofhisroyalmaster，whomhewasonthepointofsalutingwiththegreatestrespect，heperceivedthelong，calmfeaturesofAramis。？Soextremewashissurprisethathecouldhardlyrefrainfromutteringaloudexclamation。？\"Aramis！\"hesaid。
\"Goodmorning，dearD\'Artagnan，\"repliedtheprelate，coldly。
\"Youhere！\"stammeredoutthemusketeer。
\"Hismajestydesiresyoutoreportthatheisstillsleeping，afterhavingbeengreatlyfatiguedduringthewholenight。\"
\"Ah！\"
saidD\'Artagnan，whocouldnotunderstandhowthebishopofVannes，whohadbeensoindifferentafavoritethepreviousevening，hadbecomeinhalfadozenhoursthemostmagnificentmushroomoffortunethathadeversprungupinasovereign\'sbedroom。？Infact，totransmittheordersofthekingeventothemerethresholdofthatmonarch\'sroom，toserveasanintermediaryofLouisXIV。soastobeabletogiveasingleorderinhisnameatacouplepacesfromhim，hemusthavebecomemorethanRichelieuhadeverbeentoLouisXIII。？D\'Artagnan\'sexpressiveeye，half—openedlips，hiscurlingmustache，saidasmuchindeedintheplainestlanguagetothechieffavorite，whoremainedcalmandperfectlyunmoved。
\"Moreover，\"
continuedthebishop，\"youwillbegoodenough，monsieurlecapitainedesmousquetaires，toallowthoseonlytopassintotheking\'sroomthismorningwhohavespecialpermission。？Hismajestydoesnotwishtobedisturbedjustyet。\"
\"But，\"
objectedD\'Artagnan，almostonthepointofrefusingtoobeythisorder，andparticularlyofgivingunrestrainedpassagetothesuspicionswhichtheking\'ssilencehadaroused—\"but，monsieurl\'関阸ue，hismajestygavemearendezvousforthismorning。\"
\"Later，later，\"saidtheking\'svoice，fromthebottomofthealcove;avoicewhichmadeacoldshudderpassthroughthemusketeer\'sveins。？Hebowed，amazed，confused，andstupefiedbythesmilewithwhichAramisseemedtooverwhelmhim，assoonasthesewordshadbeenpronounced。
\"Andthen，\"continuedthebishop，\"asananswertowhatyouwerecomingtoasktheking，mydearD\'Artagnan，hereisanorderofhismajesty，whichyouwillbegoodenoughtoattendtoforthwith，foritconcernsM。Fouquet。\"
D\'Artagnantooktheorderwhichwasheldouttohim。？\"Tobesetatliberty！\"hemurmured。？\"Ah！\"andheutteredasecond\"ah！\"stillmorefullofintelligencethantheformer;forthisorderexplainedAramis\'spresencewiththeking，andthatAramis，inordertohaveobtainedFouquet\'spardon，musthavemadeconsiderableprogressintheroyalfavor，andthatthisfavorexplained，initstenor，thehardlyconceivableassurancewithwhichM。
d\'Herblayissuedtheorderintheking\'sname。？ForD\'Artagnanitwasquitesufficienttohaveunderstoodsomethingofthematterinhandtoordertounderstandtherest。？Hebowedandwithdrewacoupleofpaces，asthoughhewereabouttoleave。
\"Iamgoingwithyou，\"saidthebishop。
\"Whereto？\"
\"ToM。
Fouquet;Iwishtobeawitnessofhisdelight。\"
\"Ah！？Aramis，howyoupuzzledmejustnow！\"
saidD\'Artagnanagain。
\"Butyouunderstandnow，Isuppose？\"
\"OfcourseIunderstand，\"hesaidaloud;butaddedinalowtonetohimself，almosthissingthewordsbetweenhisteeth，\"No，no，Idonotunderstandyet。？Butitisallthesame，forhereistheorderforit。\"？Andthenheadded，\"Iwillleadtheway，monseigneur，\"andheconductedAramistoFouquet\'sapartments。
ChapterXXI:
TheKing\'sFriend。
Fouquetwaswaitingwithanxiety;hehadalreadysentawaymanyofhisservantsandfriends，who，anticipatingtheusualhourofhisordinaryreceptions，hadcalledathisdoortoinquireafterhim。？Preservingtheutmostsilencerespectingthedangerwhichhungsuspendedbyahairabovehishead，heonlyaskedthem，ashedideveryone，indeed，whocametothedoor，whereAramiswas。？WhenhesawD\'Artagnanreturn，andwhenheperceivedthebishopofVannesbehindhim，hecouldhardlyrestrainhisdelight;itwasfullyequaltohispreviousuneasiness。？ThemeresightofAramiswasacompletecompensationtothesurintendantfortheunhappinesshehadundergoneinhisarrest。？Theprelatewassilentandgrave;D\'Artagnancompletelybewilderedbysuchanaccumulationofevents。
\"Well，captain，soyouhavebroughtM。d\'Herblaytome。\"
\"Andsomethingbetterstill，monseigneur。\"
\"Whatisthat？\"
\"Liberty。\"
\"I
amfree！\"
\"Yes;
bytheking\'sorder。\"
Fouquetresumedhisusualserenity，thathemightinterrogateAramiswithalook。
\"Oh！
yes，youcanthankM。l\'関阸uedeVannes，\"pursuedD\'Artagnan，\"foritisindeedtohimthatyouowethechangethathastakenplaceintheking。\"
\"Oh！\"
saidFouquet，morehumiliatedattheservicethangratefulatitssuccess。
\"Butyou，\"continuedD\'Artagnan，addressingAramis—\"you，whohavebecomeM。Fouquet\'sprotectorandpatron，canyounotdosomethingforme？\"
\"Anythinginthewideworldyoulike，myfriend，\"repliedthebishop，inhiscalmesttones。
\"Onethingonly，then，andIshallbeperfectlysatisfied。？Howonearthdidyoumanagetobecomethefavoriteoftheking，youwhohaveneverspokentohimmorethantwiceinyourlife？\"
\"Fromafriendsuchasyouare，\"saidAramis，\"Icannotconcealanything。\"
\"Ah！
verygood，tellme，then。\"
\"Verywell。？YouthinkthatIhaveseenthekingonlytwice，whilstthefactisIhaveseenhimmorethanahundredtimes;
onlywehavekeptitverysecret，thatisall。\"？AndwithouttryingtoremovethecolorwhichatthisrevelationmadeD\'Artagnan\'sfaceflushscarlet，AramisturnedtowardsM。Fouquet，whowasasmuchsurprisedasthemusketeer。？\"Monseigneur，\"heresumed，\"thekingdesiresmetoinformyouthatheismorethaneveryourfriend，andthatyourbeautifulf阾e，sogenerouslyofferedbyyouonhisbehalf，hastouchedhimtotheveryheart。\"
AndthereuponhesalutedM。Fouquetwithsomuchreverenceofmanner，thatthelatter，incapableofunderstandingamanwhosediplomacywasofsoprodigiousacharacter，remainedincapableofutteringasinglesyllable，andequallyincapableofthoughtormovement。？D\'Artagnanfanciedheperceivedthatthesetwomenhadsomethingtosaytoeachother，andhewasabouttoyieldtothatfeelingofinstinctivepolitenesswhichinsuchacasehurriesamantowardsthedoor，whenhefeelshispresenceisaninconvenienceforothers;buthiseagercuriosity，spurredonbysomanymysteries，counseledhimtoremain。
Aramisthereuponturnedtowardshim，andsaid，inaquiettone，\"Youwillnotforget，myfriend，theking\'sorderrespectingthosewhomheintendstoreceivethismorningonrising。\"？Thesewordswereclearenough，andthemusketeerunderstoodthem;hethereforebowedtoFouquet，andthentoAramis，—tothelatterwithaslightadmixtureofironicalrespect，—anddisappeared。
Nosoonerhadheleft，thanFouquet，whoseimpatiencehadhardlybeenabletowaitforthatmoment，dartedtowardsthedoortocloseit，andthenreturningtothebishop，hesaid，\"MydearD\'Herblay，Ithinkitnowhightimeyoushouldexplainallthathaspassed，for，inplainandhonesttruth，Idonotunderstandanything。\"
\"Wewillexplainallthattoyou，\"saidAramis，sittingdown，andmakingFouquetsitdownalso。？\"WhereshallIbegin？\"
\"Withthisfirstofall。？Whydoesthekingsetmeatliberty？\"
\"Yououghtrathertoaskmewhathisreasonwasforhavingyouarrested。\"
\"Sincemyarrest，Ihavehadtimetothinkoverit，andmyideaisthatitarisesoutofsomeslightfeelingofjealousy。？Myf阾eputM。Colbertoutoftemper，andM。
Colbertdiscoveredsomecauseofcomplaintagainstme;Belle—Isle，forinstance。\"
\"No;
thereisnoquestionatalljustnowofBelle—Isle。\"
\"Whatisit，then？\"
\"DoyourememberthosereceiptsforthirteenmillionswhichM。deMazarincontrivedtostealfromyou？\"
\"Yes，ofcourse！\"
\"Well，youarepronouncedapublicrobber。\"
\"Goodheavens！\"
\"Oh！
thatisnotall。？DoyoualsorememberthatletteryouwrotetoLaValli鑢e？\"
\"Alas！
yes。\"
\"Andthatproclaimsyouatraitorandasuborner。\"
\"Whyshouldhehavepardonedme，then？\"
\"Wehavenotyetarrivedatthatpartofourargument。？Iwishyoutobequiteconvincedofthefactitself。？Observethiswell:thekingknowsyoutobeguiltyofanappropriationofpublicfunds。？Oh！ofcourseIknowthatyouhavedonenothingofthekind;but，atallevents，thekinghasseenthereceipts，andhecandonootherthanbelieveyouareincriminated。\"
\"I
begyourpardon，Idonotsee—\"
\"Youwillseepresently，though。？Theking，moreover，havingreadyourlove—lettertoLaValli鑢e，andtheoffersyoutheremadeher，cannotretainanydoubtofyourintentionswithregardtothatyounglady;youwilladmitthat，Isuppose？\"
\"Certainly。？Prayconclude。\"
\"Inthefewestwords。？Theking，wemayhenceforthassume，isyourpowerful，implacable，andeternalenemy。\"
\"Agreed。？ButamI，then，sopowerful，thathehasnotdaredtosacrificeme，notwithstandinghishatred，withallthemeanswhichmyweakness，ormymisfortunes，mayhavegivenhimasaholduponme？\"
\"Itisclear，beyondalldoubt，\"pursuedAramis，coldly，\"thatthekinghasquarreledwithyou—irreconcilably。\"
\"But，sincehehasabsolvedme—\"
\"Doyoubelieveitlikely？\"askedthebishop，withasearchinglook。
\"Withoutbelievinginhissincerity，Ibelieveitintheaccomplishedfact。\"
Aramisslightlyshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Butwhy，then，shouldLouisXIV。havecommissionedyoutotellmewhatyouhavejuststated？\"
\"Thekingchargedmewithnomessageforyou。\"
\"Withnothing！\"saidthesuperintendent，stupefied。？\"But，thatorder—\"
\"Oh！
yes。？Youarequiteright。？Thereisanorder，certainly;\"andthesewordswerepronouncedbyAramisinsostrangeatone，thatFouquetcouldnotresiststarting。
\"Youareconcealingsomethingfromme，Isee。？Whatisit？\"
Aramissoftlyrubbedhiswhitefingersoverhischin，butsaidnothing。